The Baltic Sea outpost of Kaliningrad was once touted as Russia’s future Hong Kong: separated from the mainland, with a special status that would allow it to thrive through trade.
But for Igor Pleshkov, who employs 300 workers in a cement factory in this region of 1 million people wedged between EU members Lithuania and Poland, the future now looks dark.
He has watched his business wither in recent months, brought low by protectionist measures imposed by Moscow in retaliation for Western sanctions.
“The Russian economy has hit bottom, but who would have thought the Russians would start digging?” Pleshkov, 46, says, quoting …read more
Source: Voice of America
